The weather is scorching, Wimbledon is on the way and now the summer can really begin.

June 21 marks the summer solstice in 2018, when the sun will rise before 5am and won't set until after 9pm.

As well as being the longest day of the year, the solstice is also a time for shenanigans at Stonehenge , general celebrations, and school holidays to look forward to.

Tomorrow the sun will move southwards and the nights will get longer.

Here's everything you need to know about the Summer Solstice 2018.

What is Summer Solstice 2018?

The summer solstice is generally understood to mark the first day of summer.

Technically, it's when the northern hemisphere of the Earth is most inclined towards the sun, and that's why we get the most daylight of the year.

Crowds gather as dawn begins to break at Stonehenge on the longest day of the year (Image: PA)

During the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere is tilted furthest away from the sun, hence fewer hours of daylight and the shortest day.

The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because the seasonal movement of the Sun's path (as seen from Earth) momentarily comes to a stop before reversing direction.

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When is Summer Solstice 2018?

In the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place between June 20 and 22. This year it's on Thursday, June 21 .

The shortest day of the year is known as the winter solstice, and occurs between December 20 and 22. This year it is on Friday, December 21.

Destination Stonehenge: Of those who attend, many are druids, but some are tourists (Image: Getty)

In London, on the summer solstice, the sun will rise at 04:42 and set at 21:19.

Near Stonehenge in Salisbury, sunrise will be at 04:51 and sunset will occur at 21:23.

What is Stonehenge?

Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric site, which may have been a place of worship and celebration at the time of summer solstice for thousands of years.

The giant stones are believed to have stood in the same spot since 3,000 to 2,000 BC, and are positioned to align with the sunrise on the two annual solstices.

If you stand in just the right place inside the Stonehenge monument on the day of the summer solstice, you will see the sun rise directly above the Heel Stone, which stands just outside the circle to the north-east.

Every year, thousands flock to the English Heritage site to witness the spectacle. White cloaked and hooded druids among the standing stones to welcome the first rays of the sunlight.